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Thursday, 28 February 2013

Hi guys,
I really love Irregular Choice shoes: they're quirky and unusual. They demand attention the second you put them on. And in my opinion, they're perfect occasion shoes: if you want to show off your fashion credentials at a wedding without detracting from the bride, for example, what better way to do it than with your feet?!
I loved these floral shoes with the Perspex heels so much, that I brought them for a wedding and now have to plan what outfit to wear around them: I'm thinking a very simple silk blend dress. And the leopard print ones were a birthday present many years ago, but they're still in great condition because I preserve them so lovingly in their box. These are the kind of shoes that demand that kind of care: and it helps that the boxes are so pretty too!

Sarenza have a great selection of Irregular Choice shoes on their site, and the new Spring/Summer options have just landed. I'm already obsessed!
Shoe names and prices from left to right: Fresh cut grass, £84.50. Baby beauty, £84.50. Tea and cakes, £64.99. Ozzy, £84.50. Summer bucket, £82.50. Aphrodite, £79.99.

The shoes that are next on my hit list are the 'fresh cut grass' ones: cream low heels with plastic blue birds and cream flowers all over them. OK so they aren't exactly understated, but when has that ever stopped me?! I also really like the final pair, 'Aphrodite'. They have a really nautical feel, and would look great teamed casually with jeans and a blouse.

Are you an Irregular Choice fan? And what do you think of the selection above?

Monday, 25 February 2013

Hi guys,
One of the emergant trend from this month's spate of Fashion Weeks for A/W13 is neon. We saw it at Henry Holland, and neon detailing (even for nails and make up) was everywhere.

So this season's neons aren't going anywhere: meaning if you buy seasonless pieces, they're the perfect investment that you can wear now, and still be wearing this time next year. Think neon jewellery, ballet pumps and lightweight, layerable shirts and tees. Pink jumper, Gap. Perspex and orange necklace, H&M. Pink lipstick, Dior. Bracelets, both Topshop.

The best thing is, the current love affair with neon isn't even a new Spring/Summer one. It actually started last year, which means there were, and still are, plenty of fluro neon items to be had in the January and end of season sales. I picked up my neon pink jumper from the Gap sale at the end of January for just £15. And I just ordered a great pair of neon detail sandals from Sarenza to keep me on trend all summer too.

Make up-wise, I think neon is difficult. I certainly wouldn't feel brave enough to wear a neon eyeshadow or (gulp!) neon mascara. But neon lipstick can look great: this neon pink lipstick from Dior has a high gloss shine that makes the colour pop even more, and really draws attention to your lips.

Admittedly, it isn't a trend for the fainthearted. But the benefits of wearing neon are multiple! It instantly makes you look tanned (I don't know how, but it does!), appear on trend with very little effort, and a little bit goes a long way: even a neon cuff is enough.

What do you think of the neon trend? Would you wear neon, or is it just a little bold for you?

Friday, 22 February 2013

Hi guys,
I'm a self confessed dress addict (the blog title is probably a dead giveaway of this!) so whenever I see a new look book or stack of product shots, my eyes immediately make a bee line for the dresses. The glitzier the better: and nevermind the fact that I don't actually have anywhere to wear them! So when I saw the latest spring/summer press images from ASOS I did my usual 'look at the pretty frocks' trick. And I definitely wasn't disappointed!!Green shift dress with 3D flower lace, £120Metallic deep plunge skater dress, £45Fluro spot shirt dress, £50Red mini dress with laser cut flowers, £150Denim look oversized shift dress, £35Shift dress with cornelli trim, £85
The dresses on my "must-have immediately" list are the denim oversized shift and the pretty pink fluro shirt dress (my particular favourite!) Both would be perfect for just throwing on with sandals for a put-together, pretty summer look; and it's this ease that is my favourite thing about wearing dresses. My favourite dress from the full selection above is the green lame' and yellow lace number: I know it would be unflattering on my figure (because its so shapeless) and lets face it, when does someone wear something like that anyway (?) but nonetheless it immediately caught my attention, and I think it looks great!

Which of my selection is your favourite? What do you think of the new selection of spring/summer dresses from ASOS? As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts!!

Monday, 18 February 2013

Hi guys,
Now that fashion week is behind us, I'm so excited for spring to finally arrive: and even more so now that I've seen the latest spring/summer lookbook from Sarenza! I'm a massive shoe addict (I just can't help myself when it comes to shoes) and checking out the sandals and pumps I'll be wearing this summer is making me itch to get my feet out of my boots and into something light and breezy pronto!
Leopard print, sugary sweet pastels, and African style tribal prints are all the order of the day when it comes to key trends. Slipper shoes are another trend- they were hot last season and they aren't going anywhere for spring summer this year either! I have a pair of leopard print slipper shoes- so that's two trends in one for me!
Finally neon for both shoes and handbags are a huge trend- another winner for me as neon makes me happy! There is a gorgeous neon yellow Betsey Johnson bag I have my eyes on.

Other pieces I just can't resist are these black Miista court shoes with the space age clear crystal heel: gorgeous statement shoes, but low enough that you could wear them comfortably! I will definitely be picking those up for wedding season as the great way to make a subtle statement that will go with everything.
Sarenza are adding some new brands to their rosta for this Spring/Summer. They include Guatemalan brand Osborn where each item is handmade by local artisans, Mocks (who make surprisingly lovely plastic boat shoes), Mila Louise who makes beautiful on-trend leather bags, and Mohekann: patchwork leather accessories. The buyers at Sarenza are amazing: when it comes to footwear they always have their toes on the fashion pulse (do you see what I did there?) and pick the most on-trend shoes from the very best brands: I can't wait to get my feet on some new season shoes immediately!

So tell me, all you show addicts out there: what shoe trends will you be trying this Spring/Summer? Have you picked up any new season shoes yet, and if so, what kind have you gone for?

Sunday, 17 February 2013

Hi guys,
There was a decidedly East meets West feel to the AW13 Bell Sauvage collection. As always, the outstanding digital prints were the focal point of the collection: this time in rich burgundy, plum, and black and silver tones.
The first thing you noticed were the striking hair styles: oriental style pigtails - long and poker straight, behind blunt two-tone fringes. But that was just frosting to what was actually a show-stopping catwalk collection. I loved the use of faux fur, which was used liberally for capes, collars, and full coats. The peter pan style faux fur collars over cocoon-style dresses in particular got me excited.
Just like at Henry Holland, this very feminine collection had a grungy urban edge. Hooded coats, beanie hats and sweaters were teamed with the same printed jewel patterned silk that was also utilised for the more sophisticated shirt and A-line dresses. This was yet another show that made liberal use of the peplum: that's three, which means this will officially be an AW13 trend!

The turn out was amazing for this show - it was standing room only and none dared breathe out! Despite the fact I had a seated ticket, I still ended up standing at the back. But it was worth a little discomfort to see what was a wonderful show. Belle Sauvage is a brand I always look forward to seeing, and this season they didn't disappoint.

Hi guys,
Last night was the Henry Holland catwalk show for AW13: And according to several bloggers and tweeters, it was the best show of London Fashion Week so far. I'm a big fan of Henry Holland and love the quirky twists and juxtapositions of his collections. And this one didn't disappoint: neon teamed with fur? Uptown city girl with downtown baseball caps? What's not to like!
Part of the new AW13 collection was the 'rave wave' print: an eye wateringly bright pattern in orange and fuschia pink. Want it? Well, the signature design is available on eBay right now as part of an exclusive collaboration with House of Holland and the eBay and it's live from now until midnight on Sunday 24th February. All the proceeds will be going to Cancer Research UK: isn't it great when shopping for something you want can help a worthy cause at the same time?!
Fans of House of Holland can get their hands on the ‘rave wave’ dress long before the AW13 collection is available in-store.
And you can get your hands on some other pieces too: the dress is part of a four piece capsule collection made up of the dress (£100), an oversized slogan t-shirt (£50), an iPhone cover (£25) and a pair of tights (£25).

Saturday, 16 February 2013

Hi guys,
I really loved the Timur Kim collection for AW13, which was so feminine that it only featured two pairs of trousers: the focus was very much on skirts and dresses. In fact, it felt like a Spring Summer collection, with it's strapless prom dresses, light and airy colours, and lack of anything discernibly warm: like a coat or a jacket!
To me the collection had a very vintage, prairie-like feel to it. This was emphasised by the models eschewing heels in favour of gold and tan brogues: lending them the look of a farm girl in the war years! The shoes were a contrast to the feminine silhouettes of the dresses, but it worked really well.

This collection was a curvy girls dream, as most of the dresses had full skirts and were accentuated at the waist by soft belts in the same fabric as the dresses: so easy to wear and they looked fantastic!
In beauty terms, make-up was understated and minimal. And I fell head over heels in love with the tousled deconstructed curls created by the hair stylists: I know this was an Autumn Winter collection, but it would be a perfect look for this summer, and is definitely going on my inspiration board!
I can understand why there is such a buzz around Timur Kim: I was almost sad when this catwalk show was over. My prediction is that it would be long until this designer leaves Vauxhall Fashion Scouts and progresses to the mains shows at Somerset House: onwards and upwards to bigger and better things!

Hi guys,
Getting ready for day one of London Fashion Week was something of a harried affair for me - not only did I have to get up and leave Norwich at the crack of dawn, I also had to dress, feed, and settle the baby at the same time. Nightmare! However I did manage to throw some semblance of an outfit together, and I actually think I looked alright. Even if we did take the photos at the back on an NCP car park, because we were running so late! Coat, Stella McCartney. Trousers and boots, Topshop. Blouse, H&M. Necklace, All Saints. Sunglasses, Rock and Replublic via TK Maxx.Bag, BCBGMaxAzria via TKMaxx.

The patterned trousers were a big move for me, as I'm so self conscious of my thunder-thighs, I never wear anything other than black tights/leggings or jeans on my legs. But I loved these when I saw them in the Topshop sale, and at £10, how could I resist?!

I was planning on wearing my studded leather jacket (which looked great with this outfit, even if I do say so myself!) but when I got to London it was so cold that I threw on my Stella McCartney mac, which was luckily on the back seat of the car. Not as on-trend as I would have liked, perhaps, but at least it's a style classic and I was definitely glad to have it when the wind started biting whilst I was queuing for the shows! And this was another bargain - I got this last year from the Stella McCartney sample sale for £90!

Did you stream or see any shows at London Fashion Week yesterday? Or are you avoiding the LFW circus altogether this weekend? And if so, what are you doing instead? I'd love to hear all about it!

Thursday, 14 February 2013

Hi guys,
London Fashion Week starts tomorrow. It's always such an exciting time for me, and I love heading to Somerset House to watch shows, hang out with other bloggers and just generally soak up the atmosphere. This year will be slightly harder though, considering I will have a 10 week old baby with me, so I am only going to London for two days, and not getting to see all of the shows I would like. I'm not upset though, because I'll still be able to watch the best shows from the comfort of my own sofa. And you can too!
For the 7th season in a row Rightster has partnered with the British Fashion Council to live stream 21 of the catwalk shows at London Fashion Week.

Tuesday, 12 February 2013

Hi guys,
So far this year I have three weddings to attend: and its only February! I suspect we have another couple of invitations to arrive! Spending every warm weekend at a wedding is one of the curses of being in your late twenties. But the plus side of this is getting to wear a series of pretty dresses. And of course, fabulous hats! L to R: Splat £70, Ayshea £64

I love a good hat, and any excuse to wear one, so I was excited to be introduced to the Magpie and Olympia collections by Bundle MacLaren millinery. Bundle works from her home in Battersea where you can make an appointment to browse and try on the collections.
You can buy pieces off the peg or she can make any design in customised colours to compliment your outfit.
And the best thing is, every piece is handmade to order.

L to R: Natalia £80, Esme £216

Bundle MacLaren fills the gap between high fashion and high street. She caters for those wanting beautiful, statement headpieces at a refreshingly affordable price, and the new collection ranges from £40 to £350. OK to £350 is a little much for wearing once to a wedding, but the lower price bracket is massively affordable, especially for something bespoke that you can guarantee no one else would be wearing (and you can't say that about a £50 hat from Debenhams!)L to R: Kinvera £170, Charlotte £152

I love the humour and the tongue in cheek nature of some of the hats: you know how excited I get about anything to do with food! My favourite though is the 'love' hat made from wire and tiny ditzy flowers. This would be just perfect for a romantic country wedding: in fact, I have a wedding in mind to wear it to!

Monday, 11 February 2013

Hi guys,
I know it's now the middle of February, but I have only just gotten round to writing my round up of January - a sign that February so far has been a very busy month! January was a fairly quiet month, mostly characterised by sales shopping and getting the hang of this parenting lark. Here's the month in pictures, according to my iphone: Mike and I have had an offer accepted on a house (Hurrah) and if all goes well, will be homeowners by Spring. So it's no surprise that a lot of my shopping has been for the home this month! I've also been inspired by pastels mixed with brighter colours, and had a great day out shopping at Westfield London. I can't wait to get down again and unleash myself with a major shopping spree!
Having a baby does funny things to your body: even though I'm below my pre-pregnancy weight, I still have a fat poochy little tummy: much bigger than before. And I hate it! So this month, I have mostly been eating an awful lot of salad. Luckily, I love salad and there's so many different things you can do with them they never get boring! Although I did ruin it all by having a trip to TGI Fridays - nom nom!!
Wilbur has changed so much since I last shared pictures of him. It's amazing how quickly he's changing and growing up. He now laughs and smiles, plays with his toys (and loves hitting the animals on his jungle playmat). He's had his first trip to London (which as you can see, he wasn't too sure about), loves his weekly music class, and cried his way through his first set of vaccinations. My baby is no longer a newborn, and on his way to becoming a proper little boy!

Hi guys,
The more I see of the new season pieces from Primark, the more my fingers start itching to hit the shops: I can't wait to hit the big Oxford Street store when I'm in London for London Fashion Week this weekend.

Although my local Norwich branch is good, it doesn't get all of the pieces I see in the look book, and I really want to get my hands on some of the prettier summer dresses. Here are some more of the press shots showcasing the new S/S pieces:
I really like both of the denim shirts, and am seriously impressed by the sunglasses, which are only £1. Things I don't like? They may be on trend but I just don't like hi tops. My motto is that if you can remember a trend from the first time round (I can!) then you're just too old for it...

The best pieces, in my opinion at least, aren't shown on the model shots: there are some great cut out shots of them though. Here are some of the pieces that I can definitely see myself rocking when Spring arrives. Unless otherwise mentioned, all of this is in store now:Floral tapestry biker jacket, £25Crochet fringed top, £14 (In store 1st March)China print dress, £20 (In store 8th March)Striped midi tube dress, £7Red zip pocket jacket, £26Ivory lace midi dress, £17Embroidered patch denim shorts, £12

What do you think of the new season collection from Primark? Are you a fan of the youthful urban theme and styling they seem to have gone with for their campaign photography? And if you've shopped in Primark lately let me know, what have you picked up?

Thursday, 7 February 2013

Hi guys,
Style-wise, I think I'll always be a London girl. I love the eclectic, undone, mismatched style of the London girl. I love the anything-goes attitude. But as I get older I appreciate the stereotypical New York style more and more. Nails are never chipped, hair is always blow dried, outfits are simple, chic, and perfectly coordinated. It's a grown up style I'd love to emulate, but I'm just too untidy to even try.

As New York Fashion Week has just started (and in just over a week London Fashion Week will start, when I will be singing the praises of all things London again) I thought now would be the perfect time to sing the praises of New York style. Starting with my three favourite New York designers:
Left to right: Alexander Wang, Diane Von Furstenberg, Marc Jacobs. Even on the catwalk styles are simple and chic: no animal headdresses or dresses made from human hair here!

The good news is, thanks to some of my favourite discount websites, these designers (and more of their New York friends) are more accessible than ever. Here are some of my favourite and affordable pieces that you can buy right now:
Diane von Furstenberg printed silk dress, £189, The Outnet
Calvin Klein red silk dress, £129, TKMaxx
Marc Jacobs pom pom dress, £174, The Outnet

I'm a sucker for a well fitting dress, and that DvF one is really calling out to me: it's such a gorgeous pattern! I think that's the key to getting this look right: pick one key stylish dress, add simple coordinating accessories, slick hair and make up, and you're ready to go!

What do you think of New York style? Do you love the coordination of it? Or are you just a scruffy London girl at heart?

Monday, 4 February 2013

Hi guys,
There are some trends that you can pretty much guarantee you will see as certain seasons approach. Fur and leather for winter. White for the summer. And just as nautical has been synonymous with spring for more years than I can even remember, over the past few years, candy and pastel colours have become just as big a Spring/Summer trend.
The Brightside of this is that you can spend that little bit more on your pastel pieces because it isn't a flash in a pan trend: you'll be able to wear them again and again. There's no need to pop to Primark because you know you'll only wear whatever trendy pieces you need once or twice! And if it's good quality staples at a reasonable price you're looking for you could do a lot worse than check out La Redoute, who seem to have really thrown themselves into a candy coloured explosion for this season!
Row 1: Jacket £69, Bag £39, Tshirt £19, Trousers £59.
Row 2: Blouse £55, Top £29, Bag £99, Top £49.
Row 3: Top £29, Shoes £75, Trousers £55, Sweater £27.

With my new mint green blazer from the Matalan sale, and a couple of pastel blouses that I picked up last summer I will definitely be embracing the candy colours trend this Spring: perfect for teaming with skinny jeans and nude coloured pumps.

What about you? Will you be wearing pastels this spring, or do you think that it's a trend that's been overdone?

Friday, 1 February 2013

Hi guys,
I know I said I wasn't going to do any more sale posts, but this one is just too good a bargain not to write a little mention of! The Topshop final clearance sale started today: they have added new lines to the sale, and reduced many of the items originally in the sale too. But when I popped into my local store today the thing that got me really excited was the jewellery: almost all of the sale jewellery has been reduced to £1.50.
I spent the grand total of £6 and got four pieces of jewellery that would have cost £45 full price. In terms of percentage discount, that's got to be my best sale bargain of the season so far! I'm still not buying costume jewellery rings (because of the dreaded green finger) which is a shame, because there were loads of tempting ones. But I did get two great bracelets, a leather strap necklace, and then impulse-bought a studded headband too!
The Topshop sale is also available online if you can't get to a store, but of course the delivery charge makes this super-cheap jewellery more expensive per piece. The other huge bargain worth popping into your local store for were thick (120 denier and 80 denier) tights in a variety of colours for £1-£2 (depending on the colour and thickness). I only wear black tights, but if you are a fan of the brighter ones than they were definitely worth picking up!

Are you still checking out the sales? Or are you focusing on new season shopping now?